Author Topic: Cycling my Fluval Edge (Read 100983 times) 295 replies

jesnon · « **Reply #80 on:** February 21, 2013, 04:25:10 PM »

Ok so just got back from work and today my readings are:

Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 5ppm
Nitrate 40ppm

I'm gonna do another 25% water change to bring down the nitrite. Urgh such a slow process!

TigzFish · « **Reply #81 on:** February 21, 2013, 04:34:33 PM »

Actually I would hold off on a water change. The Nitrate is at 40ppm which is ok for now, so hold off until it gets into the red again 80+. Do your dribble dose of ammonia and read again tomorrow. It will be more revealing to see what both readings are without any dilutions through a water change.

jesnon · « **Reply #82 on:** February 21, 2013, 05:19:26 PM »

Damn I've only just seen this message after already doing the water change

I guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow to leave it to its own devices again!

By the way would it thoroughly confuse my cycle if I got my plants relatively soon? I'm just thinking it would make my tank a little more appealing during this last leg of the cycle and help my patience somewhat... though I'm guessing that might confuse the readings etc? I'm getting a java fern and a moss ball if that makes any difference?

TigzFish · « **Reply #83 on:** February 21, 2013, 05:32:53 PM »

No worries, we'll catch it next time round.

If you add plants they will attract algae, possibly lots of it, so I would advise no at the moment. Plus it gives you a live entity to look after in a water environment that keeps changing day by day. The plants won't enjoy that.

Let's get you balanced out first and then you can leap in.

jesnon · « **Reply #84 on:** February 21, 2013, 05:41:19 PM »

I thought as much! It makes sense, I'll hold fire

jesnon · « **Reply #85 on:** February 22, 2013, 10:23:25 PM »

OK tonight's reading are:

Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite is a very light purpley colour, I think about 2ppm as it's lighter than previously
Nitrate 40 or 80ppm

Dosed another small amount of ammonia tonight and I'll be able to do morning and night temperatures this weekend as I have the weekend off (woohoo!)

TigzFish · « **Reply #86 on:** February 22, 2013, 10:30:08 PM »

Excellent!

jesnon · « **Reply #87 on:** February 23, 2013, 09:41:17 AM »

Sat am:

Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 5ppm
Nitrate 40ppm

TigzFish · « **Reply #88 on:** February 23, 2013, 10:04:17 AM »

Super, now let's see what that NitrIte is like by this evening. It should have gone down quite a bit.

ColinB · « **Reply #89 on:** February 23, 2013, 10:43:54 AM »

Looking good...... nearly there.

I've just added 5 Red Cherry Shrimps to my tank, however, giving them a well planted tank with bogwood and hiding places mean the little buggers hide all day. I think they're still alive. $:-\$

Sue · « **Reply #90 on:** February 23, 2013, 12:50:23 PM »

Yes, stage 2 (growing the nitrite eaters) is well on it's way. Once nitrite is dropping very low in 24 hours, you can increase the ammonia doses slightly.

jesnon · « **Reply #91 on:** February 23, 2013, 09:16:53 PM »

Ha! Oh no I hope my shrimp don't do that too, though I guess they have got a lot of hiding places already and that's without my plants!

Sat PM:

Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite seems exactly the same as earlier

Nitrate 80ppm

I don't understand why nothing's happened

TigzFish · « **Reply #92 on:** February 23, 2013, 10:35:12 PM »

Quote from: jesnon on February 23, 2013, 09:41:17 AM

Sat am:
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 5ppm
Nitrate 40ppm

Quote from: jesnon on February 23, 2013, 09:16:53 PM

Sat PM:
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite seems exactly the same as earlier
Nitrate 80ppm

With a NitrIte at the top end of the chart (ie: 5ppm) it will be difficult to notice any real differences, but don't panic, let's keep watch on the NitrAte now. You have given us a reading in NitrAte of 40 this morning and 80 this evening, which should indicate that your last reading was "more red" that the am reading.

Now, I personally have very great difficulty in choosing between 10/20ppm and 40/80ppm, so let's look at the next level, deep red NitrAte at the 160ppm.

Keep your dribble feed of Ammonia going, and don't change the water just yet.

What we need to see is the NitrAte hitting the high point (then we do a water change). The high ppm in NitrIte should gradually come down as you are feeding less Ammonia. It may take a few days, but I suspect you are actually doing just fine right now.

So, by tomorrow am I want to see your NitrAte above the 80ppm level... it should be getting towards a blood red colour.

I expect you will need to do another water change tomorrow night, just prior to your next dribble of Ammonia.

Doing great, keep it up.

jesnon · « **Reply #93 on:** February 24, 2013, 09:08:57 PM »

Well that's a relief!

Sun am was the same as Sat PM including ammonia 0ppm, since it was already 0ppm I haven't measured ammonia this evening

Sun pm:
Nitrate 60 / 80ppm (maybe slightly darker, but not approaching the blood red colour of 160ppm)
Nitrite: 2ppm / 5ppm (seems a more lillacy tint this time to me and seems lighter, though not enough for me to claim it's any lower!)

Hmm... shall I just dose ammonia again? I'm working 14 hours tomorrow so not sure if I can measure in the am

TigzFish · « **Reply #94 on:** February 24, 2013, 11:19:17 PM »

Looking good. Yes dose the ammonia again, got to keep feeding a little to satisfy the ammonia eaters.

ColinB · « **Reply #95 on:** February 25, 2013, 11:31:41 AM »

Quote from: jesnon on February 23, 2013, 09:16:53 PM

Ha! Oh no I hope my shrimp don't do that too, though I guess they have got a lot of hiding places already and that's without my plants!

Ah.... 4 out of 5 of the shrimps are out (but not very about) so at least most of them have survived the transfer from the LFS to my tank. *phew*

jesnon · « **Reply #96 on:** February 25, 2013, 10:34:36 PM »

Glad to hear that Colin!

So today PM my readings:
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 2 / 5ppm (seems very light to me, maybe I'm being too optimistic!)
Nitrate 40 / 80ppm

ColinB · « **Reply #97 on:** February 26, 2013, 07:36:17 AM »

Eeek! Baby shrimps!! One of the shrimps was chucking out shrimplets last evening so I turned the tank lights out to give them chance to hide somewhere before the fish scoffed them. I don't know if any survived but I hope some got into hiding places.

Sorry Jesnon - I feel like I'm hi-jacking your post (

) but as I know you intend to get shrimps it might be of interest.

jesnon · « **Reply #98 on:** February 26, 2013, 10:18:51 PM »

Ha no worries at all, can't believe your shrimps have had babies already!!

Today my readings were:

Nitrite 2 / 5ppm
Nitrate seems much more blood red than 80ppm, but not quite at the level of 160ppm yet
Ammonia 0ppm

Mean anything to anyone!? I have most of the morning off tomorrow so can attend to any tank needs then and after 17 hours in work I then have 3 whole days off to keep an eye on these pesky parameters!

I just want to go fish shopping already!

TigzFish · « **Reply #99 on:** February 26, 2013, 11:10:10 PM »

Ok, time for a water change to reduce the NitrAte, and a small dribble of Ammonia again. With your 17 hour shift coming up, another small ammonia dose will be required before you go. We can catch up again once your shift is done.

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Cycling My Fluval Edge

Cycling My Fluval Edge

Author Topic: Cycling my Fluval Edge (Read 100983 times) 295 replies

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